Minto Country Music Wall of Fame

Gerald Blackier, son of Ida and Emile Melanson was born on December 31, 1933. Gerald has had a passion for playing musical instruments since he was a child. At the age of sixteen, he started playing the guitar and was soon playing at house parties with Merton Bailey…..sometimes all night!

Gerald and his wife Phyllis had five children. Though he worked hard to support his family, Gerald took the time to teach his children music. Most of them learned to play guitar, piano and sing.

In 1992 Gerald joined the musical group The Country Rebs playing the guitar at the Play House, CBC Radio, dances and telethons. When the band folded, Gerald continued playing guitar and singing for seniors at Mill Cove Nursing home, Phillips Nursing Home and the Queen's North Nursing Home, sometimes twice a month for all of them.

One year Gerald performed at one hundred and forty nine different benefits that included Easter and Halloween dances for the handicap, anniversaries, Christmas and Cancer telethons, dances at the Lions Club and many dances for seniors.

In 2007 Gerald won the Senior Idol trophy in a competition for seniors between 70 and 80 years of age held at the Minto Senior Citizen's Club.

Besides the guitar, Gerald plays the fiddle and the mandolin. He has written two songs entitled "Teach me to pray" and "Evening Shadows."